Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 28, 2011

Metro launches Farragut Crossing

New option for customers transferring between Red and Blue/Orange lines

Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles today launched Farragut Crossing, a “virtual tunnel” between Farragut West and Farragut North stations that gives customers the option to transfer above ground between the Red and Blue/Orange lines.

Starting today, a customer with a SmarTrip® card can exit either Farragut North or West, walk a short distance above ground and reenter the system at the other Farragut station without paying extra. Previously, Metro’s fare system would have interpreted the transfer as two separate trips.

The new Farragut Crossing feature gives customers another option to Metro Center when transferring between the Red and Blue/Orange lines. A customer traveling from Ballston to Bethesda, for example, can now exit at Farragut West, walk across the square and reenter at Farragut North to continue the trip. With Farragut Crossing, the customer pays one fare—not two.

“Our best ideas come from our customers. Farragut Crossing is just that—an idea that was brought forward by our riders,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles. “The new option can save customers time and ease congestion at Metro Center, our second busiest rail station.”

Riders need a SmarTrip® card to use Farragut Crossing and have 30 minutes to complete their transfer, allowing plenty of time to grab a sandwich en route.

Metro solicited names from customers for the free transfer initiative through its Facebook page and put the finalists up for a vote in August. Riders favored the name “Farragut Crossing.”

Metro worked with the District of Columbia, Greater Greater Washington and the Golden Triangle BID on the Farragut Crossing initiative.